What the map creator defines as "ballot spoilage" is not ballot spoilage. Ballot spoilage is when a mistake has been made on a ballot and the voter requests a new one. The original ballot is spoiled and is not to be counted.
The map creater uses the definition of "undervotes" as a synonym for ballot spoilage. Undervotes could very well be intentional. I routinely and intentionally undervote in my US Congress race.
I don't like it when the language is corrupted.
It would also include double-votes and chaddery. So "undervotes" is not an accurate term either.
Personally, I don't think someone would wait in line for a long time to vote for dog catcher. The pres race was the "big shew."
I agree
If we are talking "spoilage" then we are just talking errors made that resulted in the voter getting a new ballot. These ballots do not ever count. The higher rate is interesting only in that it confirms that Kerry voters are more error prone then Bush voters - like that's news.
If we are talking "under votes", there are legitimate reasons for this. These "under votes" will practically never count. See my post above.
This is starting to get tiresome...
The person who invented that word - and any person who uses that word without laughing derisively, or spitting on the ground - needs to have their a$$ kicked.
I undervoted.